ECAR Fact Sheet for California
Used Tires

Regulations
Self-Audit Checklist
Best Management Practices
Contacts
Related ECAR Fact Sheets
Other Relevant Resources

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The following fact sheet was prepared by the ECAR Center staff. Once prepared, each ECAR Center fact sheet undergoes a review process with the applicable state environmental agency(ies). You can check on the status of the review process here. Please read the disclaimer on the status page. While we have tried to present a summary of the essential information on this topic, you should be aware that other items, such as local regulations, may apply to you.

What You Need to Know

With more than 30 million tires generated yearly in California and an estimated 15 million stockpiled--legally and illegally--around the state, the potential for a major tire fire is a constant threat. Tire piles also make very appealing homes for pests, and breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other creatures. In the state of California, any facility that stores or stockpiles more than 500 waste tires at a specific location must acquire a major or minor waste tire facility (WTF) permit and comply with technical standards for the safe storage of waste tires.

This fact sheet will tell you what you need to do to apply for such a permit and will also help you manage the tires stored at your facility.

Permits. By definition, a major WTF stores, stockpiles, accumulates, or discards 5,000 or more waste tires, and a minor WTF stores, stockpiles, accumulates, or discards up to 5,000 waste tires.

Operators of minor and major WTFs are required to verify that all applicable local, State, and federal permits and approvals have been satisfied. Applicants are to complete the following:

• Waste Tire Facility Permit Application--CIWMB Form 500
• Operation Plan--CIWMB Form 501 (MS Word | Acrobat PDF)
• Environmental Information--CIWMB Form 502 (MS Word | Acrobat PDF)
• Emergency Response Plan--CIWMB Form 503 (MS Word, | Acrobat PDF)

Additionally, major WTF operators are required to:

• Complete a Closure Plan--CIWMB Form 504 (MS Word | Acrobat PDF).
• Complete a reduction/elimination plan.
• Establish a financial assurance mechanism and obtain operating liability coverage (see financial assurances page for more detail).

Applicants are required to submit the original and two copies of the completed forms to the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Within 30 days of receipt, the Board will either accept or reject the application. Within 180 days (in most cases) of accepting a completed application, the Board will issue or deny the issuance of a WTF permit. Regulatory requirements for major and minor waste tire facilities are listed in Title 14, California Code of Regulations Section 18431.

Transport of Scrap Tires.

The State of California requires that anyone who, as part of a commercial business, transports 10 or more scrap tires in the state must be registered with the CIWMB as a scrap tire hauler. Registered tire haulers must possess manifests during transport of waste tires and transport only to authorized facilities. State law requires persons receiving tires from unregistered haulers to report the hauler to the IWMB. Information on each of these haulers is maintained in the Waste Tire Hauler database.

Record Keeping. State laws and regulations require that generators, haulers, and destination sites comply with the waste and used tire hauler manifest system. Haulers must carry a complete manifest when hauling waste or used tires. The hauler must ensure that the manifest is also appropriately completed by the generator and destination site. Each of the responsible parties is required to maintain a copy of the manifest for three years after the completion of the manifest. The CIWMB distributes the manifests to registered haulers as they are requested.

Links to the Regulations. Use the following links to view the regulations pertaining to scrap tire management.

Title 14, California Code of Regulations Section 18431.

CIWMB Web Site for Waste Tire Facilities

When an inspector comes to your facility, there are certain things he or she checks to see if you are in compliance with environmental regulations. It makes good sense for you to perform a "self-audit" and catch and correct problems before they result in penalties. Also, there are some compliance incentives associated with self-audits (see Audit Policy Page).

Use the following list to audit your scrap tire storage areas and management procedures.

1. Does the facility accumulate scrap tires? If the facility accumulates or stores more than 500 tires, verify that the facility has a current major or minor waste tire facility permit issued by the California Integrated Waste Management Board.
2. Are scrap tire inventory records maintained and available in the event of a Board inspection? Verify that facility maintains records for 3 years including inventory, locations of disposal/recycle facilities, and disposal/recycle receipts.
3. How are scrap tires transported for disposal/recycling? Verify that any vehicle transporting more than 10 tires at a time is registered with CIWMB as well as completes and maintains a manifest.
4. Where are scrap tires transported for disposal/recycling? Verify that scrap tires are being transported to a facility permitted by CIWMB specifically for scrap tire processing.

Most regulations tell you what you have to do to be in compliance, but they don't explain how to do it. That's where "best management practices" come into play. BMPs are proven methods that help you to get into compliance and stay there. The following BMPs are recommended for scrap tire storage areas and management procedures.

• Store scrap tires indoors or outdoors with a cover to prevent the collection of standing water and to prevent mosquito larvae from thriving.
• If scrap tires cannot be processed in a timely manner, leave scrap tires on the rims to avoid problems with mosquitoes until the scrap tires can be managed properly.
• Do not burn or bury scrap tires.
• Transport stored scrap tires regularly to prevent large accumulations.
• Maintain disposal/recycling receipts for at least 3 years.

1. For more information about the waste tire facility program, contact Tom Micka at (916) 341-6425.

Related ECAR Fact Sheets

None identified.

1. Partners in the Solution Guidance Manual (Developed by the State of California Auto Demantlers Assn)
2. Tire Management
   

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